A laboratory for testing legal arguments, as well as a model for future lawsuits, it aims to become a “virtual court” dealing with the issue of property Sculptors of the Parthenon and the fact that Lord Elgin did not pay the customs duty for the importation of sculptures of the Parthenon. (“K”, 10.08.22).

Trial to be held tomorrow at 21:30. Greek time from Winchester CollegeThe alma mater where British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak studied, in collaboration with the Institute for Digital Archeology (IDA) of the University of Oxford, will be in the nature of a debate between student groups who will be asked to speak for both the Greek side and the British side, responding to the question is “whether the British Museum has legal ownership of the Elgin marbles”.

The Tribunal will also be chaired by a group of seven British lawyers, judges and diplomats. Lawyer Nicolas Le Pointeven and Roger Mitchell, IDA director and professor of law at Boston University, will moderate and direct the debate.

“Virtual court will help spectators and participants”, Roger Mitchell tells K.“to gain a deeper understanding of the legal issues involved in this 200 year old dispute.

This issue has long been a matter of serious international concern, yet surprisingly little has been done to understand the specific legal rights associated with this issue.

It will also be a good opportunity for the students of Winchester College to reflect and engage with an important topic related to history and cultural heritage that concerns almost everyone.”

Focusing specifically on the student engagement part of the institute, Mr Mitchell says it would be interesting to think how different Rishi Sunak’s views on the Parthenon sculpture issue might have been had he been involved in a sham lawsuit like this one as a student at Winchester.

“Is there a future prime minister among the current student participants? Youth is the future. It is they who, in the coming years, will make all the important decisions about the attitude of society towards cultural heritage.”